Shelf with label



S. W. M' cKEE AND J. H. ALLEN.

SHELF WITH LABEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 920.

1 ,%02,877. Q Patented Jan. 10, 1922.

BTILLMAN w. MOKEE SHELF WITH LABEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntedl Jan. M), 1922.

.ttpp1loat1on fl1ed October 18, 1920. Serial No. 417,737.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, STILLMAN W. MoKEE and JAMES H. ALLEN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented a new and useful Shelf with Label, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a shelf provided with a label to designate the character of the objects on the shelf. It is especially useful in A libraries or other places where it is desired to indicate the character of the contents of the volumes on the shelf by a suitable label mounted conveniently on the front edge of theshelf. Heretofore labels have been a plied in some manner to the edges offtfie shelves for-the purpose mentioned above, but by the old construction, as the volumes on the shelf were re-arranged to accommodate additional volumes on the same subjects, it was necessary in many instances to entirely remove the label and substitute therefor another label. It has been heretofore proposed to groove the edge of the shelf and insert the label in the groove and with such construction, when it is desired to change the position of the label len hwise of the shelf, the label is simply move along the groove to the new position. With such construction the lower edge of the label rests upon the bottom of the groove and consequently any dirt, paint or other material that may obstruct the groove forms an obstruction which makes it difiicult to move the label along the groove.

This invention provides a label which can be readily moved along the shelf, the con-- struction being such that the edges of the label do not contact with the'bottom of the ggoove, thus avoiding the difiiculty noted a ove.

Sever a1 differ tint forms of the invention are provided, but the fundamental feature characterizin all of them is the flanged construction of t e slide and beads on the edge of the shelf adapted to engage the flange to hold the label in place.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bookcase provided with shelves constructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front ards ui or other suitable structure.

elevation of one of the shelves showing one of the labels in place.

Fi 3v is a sectional elevation on line.

X Fig. 2.

Fig. 4- is a fragmental front elevation, analogous to-Fig. 2, of a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line indicated by Ki -X Fig. 4..

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation similar to Figs. 3 and 5 showing a still different modification of the invention.

The shelves are indicated at 1 and are supported in any suitable manner on the stand- The shelves are of like construction and therefore but one of them needs to be described. The shelf 1 is provided with a groove 2 extending lengthwise in its front edge, and at least a portion of the groove has an undercut portion, as indicated at 3 in Figs. 3 and 5 and at 4 in Fig. 6.

Now referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 5, the undercut portions 3 of the groove define wedge-shape beads 5, the narrower portions of the beads being adjacent one another but spaced slightly apart. The groove 2 may be formed by sawing from the corners of the front edge inwardly at anangle so that the saw cuts cross one another, thus making the outer faces of the beads extend aslant inwardly toward each' other. The dotted line b in Figs. 3 and 5 indicates how the material may be cut away to'deepen the roove when such construction is desired.

he advantages of the deeper groove will be set forth hereinafter.

Now referring more particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawings the undercut portions 4 are spaced apart so as to leave a rib 6 therebetween, said rib being provided with wedgeshape beads 7 which are similar to the beads 5 excepting that the narrower portions are turned away from one another.

From the foregoing it is clear that the groove may be variously constructed, but it is to be noted that a feature of the grooves common to the different forms of the invention is In Figs. 3 and 5 to the flanges 10 are joined rearwardly divergent flanges 11', the front faces of which engage the rear faces of the beads 5 in the same manner that the flanges 1.0 engage the rear faces of the beads 7 in the form of the invention shown in Fig.

6. Thus in Figs. 3 and 5 the flanges .11,

though the reverse of the flanges 10 in Fig.

. 6, serve to shiftably support the slide on the edge of the shelf. The flange 10 in Fig. 6

and flanges 11 in Figs. 3 and 5 are of lesswidth than the undercut portions of the grooves 2, so 'as not to engage the bottom of 'the undercut portions, in consequence of which if there be any dirt or paint or other obstruction in the bottom of the groove such obstruction will not .proveto be an obstacle to the shifting of the slide lengthwise of the shelf.- The flan es IO in Fig. 6 and the flanges 10, 11 in igs. 3 .and5 form a contracted portion of the slide.

i The slide may be made of any suitable material, it being preferable that the mate rial be of a more or less resilient character or that at least the flanges 10 in Fig. 6 and the flanges 11 in Figs. 3 and 5 be more or less resilient. The slide 8, for example, may bemade of paper, cardboard or sheet metal. In Fig. 2 the slide is illustrated as being provided with a legend or inscription 12 and such legend may be written, printed or stamped upon the slide, which thus constitutes the label. The legend indicates the character of the works placedon the shelf contiguous to the slide, that is to say above Or below the shelf according to the desires of the librarian. In Fig. 1 the slides are positioned on the shelf supporting the .works designated by the different legends on the slides. If desired the legend may be written, printed or stamped upon a slip 13 positioned against the rear face of the slide as in Figs. 5 and 6. In this instance the slip constitutes the label. When the slip 13 is employed, if the slideis formed of opaque material, the slide may be provided with an opening 14 as in Fig. 4, through which opening theIege-nd 15 of the slip may be viewed; or, if desired, the slide may be formed in whole or in part .of transparent material such as celluloid or the like, and in that event the opening 14 will not be necessary and may be omitted.

From the-foregoing itis clear that any suitable material may be employed for the to appear on a slip instead of on the slide,

the member 9 will either be provided with .the supporting structure, or said slides may be readily snapped into place by first inserting one of the flanges 10 in Fig. 6 or 11 in Figs. 3 and 5 into the groove and then springing the other flange into the undercut portion of the groove. A suitable tool may be devised to aid in springing the slide into the groove ifsaid slide be made of stiff material such as sheet metal. If it be desired to remove the slide from the shelf so as to change the legend, the slide will be forced outwardly by inserting the finger-beneath one end thereof or a suitable tool may be inserted in. the groove beneath the slide to pry the slide out of the groove, the flanges yielding sufficiently to permit of this. In order to permit of the ready insertion of the tool beneath the slide it may be preferable to cut the groove to the broken line indicated at b in Figs. 3 and 5 as hereinbefore described.

To make the insertion of the slides in the opening.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that if it be desired to place additional volumes upon the shelf pertaining to any given subject, the slides may be appropriately shifted along the shelf to position them correctly with respect to the I volumes to which the legends refer.

The invention is of comparatively simple construction and when the shelves are made as described the labels can be very readily, attached to the shelves, such attaching not requiring any special skill. It will also be clear that the labels can be placedin position and changed from one position to another in a comparatively short space of tlme.

We claim:

1. In combination, a shelf having a groove in its front edge defining faces extending aslant inwardl toward each other and defining wedge-siiape beads, and a slide having portions engagin theundercut portions of the groove-an having a flat face in .front of said engaging portions of less and said flat face lywardly converging flanges resting against Witnesses:

provided with undercut portions, the groove first flanges and engaging the rear faces of 10 defining wedge-shape beads having their the beads.

outer faces extending aslant inwardly to- Signed at Los Angeles, California, this Ward each other, the narrower portions of 12th dayof Ootober,.l920. the beads being adjacent one another but STILLMAN W. MoKEE.

spaced slightly apart, and a slide having rear- JAMES H. ALLEN.

the front faces of the beads, the slide having GEORGE H. HERBS,- rearwardly divergent flanges joined to the L. BELLE WEAVER. 

